Six DWI arrests made on New Year's Day

Tuesday

Jan 1, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 1, 2013 at 6:28 PM

Chris Lavender and Steve Huffman / Times-News

Six DWI arrests were made by local law enforcement on New Year’s Day, according to warrants.

The State Highway Patrol made three DWI arrests while Burlington Police, Graham Police and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office each made one DWI arrest in their jurisdictions on Tuesday with all of the arrests made between midnight and 7:30 a.m., according to warrants.

State Highway Patrol 1st Sgt. Tim Crumpler said there were more troopers patrolling the roadways on Monday and Tuesday because of the holiday. There were no serious vehicle accidents reported in Alamance County during the period, Crumpler said.

Crumpler said he hoped that because New Year’s Eve fell on a Monday this year, the number of intoxicated people climbing behind the wheel might decrease in comparison to years when the holiday falls on a weekend.

Burlington Police and ACSO had their normal staff levels during the holiday shift patrolling the roadways with no serious vehicle accidents reported.

Chris Verdeck, an assistant chief with the Burlington Police Department, said there were no plans to increase DWI patrols on New Year’s Eve, but said plenty of officers were looking for inebriated motorists. He said with the holiday falling on a weeknight, it would probably compare with a weekend as to the number of drunken motorists on the road.

“We haven’t had any problems to speak of,” Verdeck said of an uptick in motorists driving on New Year’s Eve when they have no business behind the wheel.

Law enforcement officers advised drivers to use a taxi service if needed. AAA Carolinas did not participate this year in “Tipsy Tow” while other AAAs nationwide did offer the free taxi service on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The service operated by AAA was designed to keep drunk drivers off the road. It was tried in North Carolina and South Carolina two years ago.

Tom Crosby, a spokesman for AAA Carolinas, said the service was discontinued in North Carolina and South Carolina because it was abused.